Sonya give the pt thing a go. If you are good, it shouldn't matter what age you are. Also you should get a great price for your place in Earlsfield. Prices are nuts now (although I suspect they probably are where you are buying also).

For anyone facing time without a kitchen, I had this for a few months. Its no fun but my slow cooker was a godsend. I bought packs of pre chopped veg and meat and just added water/stock/tomato puree etc. It saved nights of endless takeaways. Building work is truly horrible but it is worth it. One tip, get on top of your builders from day one rather than being nice. So many of them take the p...

The baby has slept all day, could be in for a hard night. I even bathed him to wake him up but just fed a little and went back to sleep! Nervous!!!

Pretty sure they'd do it with the spinal anaesthesia - I was offered it when I had G. Erm, no, I want to pop out at least another one

Sonya, that sounds like a fab idea! definitely a gap in the market there.

Waves to Minks!

Have a dopey, post-feed baby on me so had better take her to bed. Hope she sleeps better tonight - did three night feeds last night (9.30, 11.30, 1.30). Yuck. Pretty sure she is having an almighty growth spurt as she is very fussy on the boob and napping slightly more in the day. She also hasn't 'been' since Sunday so I await that nappy with some trepidation. Will see how she goes over the next week or so and then might start on some baby rice if no improvement. At the moment she is still gaining plenty of weight on just boob milk so I am in no hurry, but I had got used to 11 hours at night!! She is a big girl - has jumped from 75th centile at birth to 91st now. Tbh I think she would have been on 91st or higher had she not been evicted early. Guess she is catching up!

It is definitely almost Friday where I live!! And its a beautiful day here! We are having a glorious autumn!! Cool in the mornings then stunning warm days. Seriously dry though, I've give up planting anything in my garden until watering restrictions are lifted and my parents farm is still major drought!

I have a friend who is in her 50's and re-trained as a PT/pilates instructor. She's built up a fab business and a lot of our age and older women prefer her to someone younger who doesn't understand the challenges of exercise as you get older or after having children.

M was a 91st percentile baby TB - its great because even if they are off their food for a bit or sick, you're never really worried about their weight or if they're eating enough!

Off to the farm tomorrow for the weekend - can't wait!! Sister and her kids will be there also so will be lovely and a break from general job worries. Had a huge row with hubby - he is quite a tidy person and I'm not a slob but normal (I think!) and as he's at home too much he's being really pedantic about tidiness. I snapped and went off on one which seemed very out of proportion to the issue but was all my frustration boiling over. Bit part of the problem is I am used to having the house to myself when I'm working and having him home for the last 2 weeks has been so distracting!

Found a house we'd love to buy and can afford mortgage-wise but can't afford repayments until hubby is working fulltime - sigh!!! Sorry forgot I was planning on being more positive today!!! Right, best get stuck into work as have various jobs to fit into my day as well!

Sorry no pics from me as the swimming pool and x-trainer in the play room are not the prettiest!! No mara or ultra for me. More complete rest, odd swim as can't get to the pool for more than that, Monday, Sat, Sun are my only options sadly. X-trainer maybe although she isn't sure if that is aggravating it. But that's it folks. I think I've pretty much decided that's it for me. Can't bare the let downs anymore, so no more highly competitive running for me For a while.

Rubbish day at work, review which has resulted in a demotion and another 6 month contract. After working full time hours and being paid 21 hours, ignoring my kids etc that's what I get. Time to look around me thinks. Apparently I have generated enough enquiries with my new branded website pages. They've only been live 2 weeks!!! Not a happy bunny.

Sorry, very me, me, me. PT, go for it Sonya. I am toying with Coaching and combining with writing about running/coaching now I have editing experience.

Now have delightful pink with flying skulls rock tape!! Maybe I'll take a pic of that for you ant the view from my xtrainer!

((MM)). Sounds rubbish all round. Yes definitely look around for other work - your boss sounds as appreciative as mine...

I am raging again - my boss has brought in 2 contractors, plus 1 external from Vodafone and is transferring someone in from another team but ... still won't let me leave as we are 'under-resourced'. My current assignment ends at the end of this month and ... I have NO OTHER ASSIGNMENT TO DO. WTAF????

(((MM))) Really feel for you love. How crap, both the knee and the work situation. Definitely worth looking around for something else - it'll be easier than last time you were looking as you have recent experience. Life's too short to be unhappy. Get yourself mended and then perhaps just aim to run for pleasure for a while (if you can) - there's more to being a runner than just racing.

For me it's about head space, time to myself to reflect/think/analyse. I know I don't have your history of super-fast marathons, hundred-mile weeks, and 10K races under 40 minutes and those are hard to walk away from. But it's also about what else you've got out of running all these years, all the memories of those runs on dark, icy roads in winter storms and those cool autumn mornings when the air is ripe with the smell of mist and cut grass - those are the things that you don't forget and they make you feel alive, and that feels good. That feels SO good. So don't give it up, just find something new to take from it, make your peace with your past achievements and take a new direction.

(((MM))) boo to rubbish work, nothing like feeling under-appreciated. And boo to the knee but wise words from Minks - I once saw someone running a charity race with a sign on her back which read "I run because I know those who can't" and that has been my motivation ever since, amongst other things. I have 2 legs, I am fit and healthy and it's fun .

Talking of work, I've got an interview next Friday . Applied 12th Feb, invited for interview yesterday??! I had literally just thrown the details in the bin the other day because I assumed I hadn't got anywhere! Anyway, I would really like the job as long as it means I can carry on with my current job until the end of June, although based on the timescale so far I don't expect the successful applicant will start until September! IF I got the job, I'd like to still teach as I am now alongside but we'll see. It's a student mentoring job, taking tutorial sessions amongst other things - an interesting sounding job, I just don't want to lose the teaching side of things as well. Who knows if I'll get it anyway!

PTA social night tonight, should be a good laugh. I am in need of cider . I'm also being observed next Tuesday - stressful week!

Oh MM that is very very tough re the running and a double whammy with the work review. Does your boss socialise with CM's boss?! New job sounds like a great plan and as someone said it will be easier with recent experience under your belt! Take care of yourself xxxx
CM - look how many people it's taking to replace you!! If they're going to make you work til the end then treat it as a relax/destress time - do absolute minimum and be at home doing things for yourself as much as possible - you owe them nothing!!
Loving all the running view pics. I'm still not doing much but will try and take one on my daycare run route this morning to share.
Looked at a house yesterday and loved it - bank today to see what mortgage we'll get on my salary - not holding breath but if it's meant to be it will be!
Then it's off to the farm - yay!!!

Urgh that was one of the least enjoyable runs I have done. Up at 4.15am for 20 miles on a cup of tea and back home to get all the kids out to school. Not nice but job done I suppose. Was feeling a bit annoyed with myself for not feeling good but I have done 114 miles in the last 7 days so only to be expected I suppose. Quite telling that I am looking forward to having no running focus for a week. I might try the treadmill if the urge takes me but not sure if its worth packing my trail shoes?

We did a 5k time trial/handicap race on Weds night. But our sadistic coach started us halfway up a huge hill which shows in mile splits of 7.14/6.05/6.05 to sneak in at 19:58! Dylan and Sophie ran too and Dylan did 22:30 and Sophie 27:00. Great fun as it was a handicap race. Me and another guy were last off so it was fun hunting the others down. Never managed to catch Dylan though, the wee toe rag! Such good fun with the banter going on.

Got a busy day ahead to get the packing finished and house in order and we are off on the boat tonight. Got waylaid by two friends that popped over and the three glasses of wine I drank didn't help with my packing last night (or probably with my run this morning come to think of it). I am just hanging on to the thought of that g&t as we sail out of the harbour at 5pm, saying that I sound like a bit of an alcoholic!! Then we fly from Glasgow on Sunday morning. Kids are just bouncing off the walls with excitement.

I might read when I am away but can't post from my phone so will catch up when we are back. In the meantime take care all. x

Have a great break, Lotte - sounds like you perhaps need it? Don't pack the trail shoes - a break from running will do you good both mentally and physically. Sounds like it won't be long before Dylan is challenging you - your splits are awesome though! I would be in heaven if I could run consistent sub-7 miling!

Long run sounds grim but then anything at 4:15am is grim in my book! And yes, I'm sure the wine was the reason for it being so unenjoyable

I'm having a fairly easy week after my half last Sunday. The fall seems to have slowed my usually quick recovery and I've felt tired and heavy all week. Ran 3 miles Tuesday, 5 on Wednesday and will do 3 or 5 this afternoon/evening depending on when I end up running and what can be fitted in to that slot. 10 planned for Sunday - think I'll head down to Lee Valley Park and do a nice flat one round the canal as a Mother's Day treat to myself! Been doing lots of hilly runs lately (and they have definitely made me stronger/faster) but sometimes a flat run is quite welcome

Minks now I'm not training for anything much maybe one Sunday we could meet up and go for a lee valley run together? I'd enjoy that, if you would.......

Going to see our friends in Chichester tomorrow for the wk end. She is one of my oldest school friends, so we've known each other for 25 yrs. They have 2 kids, but sadly the older one is not well. He was diagnosed with all sorts of things when still unborn and has had many operations and things since then. I haven't see them for 2 yrs but apparently he is very resilient and always happy. The Dad has MS too and is registered legally blind and cant walk far, so I think my friend has a lot to cope with but she'd never admit it.

Enjoy the G and T Lotte - and don't bring your trail shoes! Enjoy the skiing and good quality family time

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